Needle-motion mechanism for looms



May 6 1924.

C. H. COLLINS NEEDLE MOTION'MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May '7. 1923 I N V EN TOR. Mew (MM A TTORNEY.

. Patent any 124 lLES E. GOLLINS, OF

STERDAM, NEW YORK.

NEEDLE-MOTION MECHANISM FOR LQOMS.

Application filed Kay 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. COLLINS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Needle-Motion Mechanism or Looms, of

which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to looms for weav- 1 ing Axminster carpets and rugs, more particularly to means for causing a retard to the movement of theweft needle for a portion of its travel while it is between the warp yarns.

The object of this invention is to provide simple but effective means for assuring smooth motion of the weft needle regardless of the speed at which it is being operated,

particularly during the latter part of its forward travel and the first part of its reversed movement; and to insure the stoppage of the needle at an exact point to allow proper passage of the selvage shuttle through the loop in the weft yarn. The accomplishment of my object insures perfect selvage on work woven on looms provided with my im rovement.

I accomp ish my object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a needle and one type of needle motion mechanism (parts broken away), the needle provided with one ty e of retard device.

liigs. 2 and 3 are enlarged detail views, illustrating the construction of the retard device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another form of retard device.

The same reference characters refer tothe same-parts throughout the several views. 4

Referring to the drawings, 2 represents a frame of any suitable form adapted to have mounted thereon a guide bar 3, on which is slidably mounted a carria e 4, adapted to have mounted thereon, an to actuate, the weft needle 5. The needle 5, I prefer to mount in the carriage 4, in such manner that it is capable of a limited longitudinal sliding motion, independent'of the carriage; and to so interpose' a spring 6, that in imarting forward movement to the needle, the orce will be applied through said spring.-

In the drawings, T have illustrated a through the oop 1923. Serial No. 637,117.

needle mechanism adapted for use on looms for weaving wide rugs. For the purpose of'actuating the carriage 4, I make use of the usual cable or rope'8, fastened to a suitable stud 9, on the side of the carriage and passing over grooved pulleys 10 and 11. This cable may be driven from 'a drum in the usual manner; but I prefer to use a means which will impart an irregular speed to the needle, so that though being operated at a high speed, at the beginning and ending of the stroke in either direction, the speed will be reduced. Such a motion may be imparted to the needle by driving the cable 8, from a scroll or irregular surfaced drum, but I prefer to use the mechanism illustrated, in which a cable driving drum 12, is mounted on a shaft (or pivot pin) 13, supported in the frame 2.

'On the shaft 13, or attached to the end of the drum 12, is a pinion 14, meshing with the spur gear 15, fastened on the shaft 16, and on this shaft is also fastened an irregular spur gear 17, adapted to mesh with and be driven by the irregular gear segment 18, pivoted at '19. The gear segment 18, is

riven by means of a link 23,. from a crank pin 22, on the crank disc 21, fastened to the end of a power shaft 20. i

In order to cause a retard to the motion of the needle as it approaches the end of its forward stroke, and begins the back stroke,

I may substitute for the usual needle guide an open ended cylinder 30, in the closed end of which I form an opening 31, which will act as a guide; and make the collar 25, of such a size, and fasten it on the needle at such a point, that it will enter but fit closely in the cylinder 30, and will bottom in saidv cylinder just as the point of the needle reaches the point at which it should stop to permit free assage of the selvage shuttle ormed in the weft yarn. With a retard device of this type, as soon as the collar 25, enters the cylinder 30, the air in the cylinder will act as a cushion and cause opposition, to the free forward motion of the collar 25, and the needle on which it is fastened. The amount of opposition may be varied by providing a port 3233, the outlet 35, of which is obstructed by an adjustable valve as the pin 34.

When the reverse motion of the needle 5, and collar 25, is started, a cein amount of vacuum will be created in the cylinder 30, and will exert a small amount of retard against the free movement of the needle 5. I may, however, use a retard device of the type illustrated in Fig. 4, which consists of a supporting member 36, having formed thereon a needle guide and stop 37, and a series of bearing supports 3838, in which are slidably mounted a pair of contact shoes 39, backed by springs 41, adapted to force said shoes toward each other so as to exert friction on-the collar 25, on the needle 5, as it passes therebetween. No adjustment of the spring tension is provided for in the device illustrated in Fig. 4, but it is obvious that such adjustment may be easily added if desired.

In adjusting the needle motion mechanism, I arran e for a somewhat greater travel than wil ordinarily be required, so that despite such lost motion as may develop the needle will always be seated against the limiting stop on its forward stroke, and the spring 6, be partly compressed.

By increasing the length of travel of the carriage 4, after the collar 25, contacts with the limiting stop provided, the length of the dwell is increased, and by quickening the speed of the needle during the middle portion of the stroke thereof, it is feasible to increase the dwell at the end of the stroke without changing the timin of the needle.

Stopping the needle at a efinite point in the forward stroke, and causing the needle actuating mechanism to travel a further distance, obviates the necessity of adjusting the needle motion every time the cable 8, stretches, or wear occurs in the needle actuating mechanism. Retarding the needle during a part of its travel and making it'stop at a definite position at the end of the forward stroke, and holding it there under spring pressure, overcomes the irregular or erky motion which is so likely to occur when the needle stops and'reverses.

I claim: g

1. In a needle motion mechanism for a loom, the combination of a weftneedle, a stop adapted to limit the forward movement thereof, a' s aced pair of collars fastened to the rear en of said needle, a needle carriage said collars, a spring between said carriage and the forward collar of said pair adapted to yield so as to permit limited additional forward movement of said'carriage, a guide for said carriage, and means, for imparting reciprocating movement to said carriage.

2. In a needle motion mechanism for a loom, the combination of a weft needle, a i stop adapted to limit the forward movement thereof, a spaced pair of collars fastened on the rear end of said needle, a needle carriage slidably connected to said needle between said collars,;a spring between said carriage ment to said carriage. slidably connected to said needle between esa ma and the forward collar of said pair adapted to yield and permit limited additional forward movement of said carriage, a guide for said carriage, means for imparting reciprocating movement to said carriage and at predetermined irregular speed.

3. In a needle motion mechanism for a looni, the combination of a weft needle, a stop adapted to limit the forward movement thereof, a spaced pair of collars fastened on the rear end of said needle, a needle carriage slidably connected to said needle between said collars, a spring between said carriage and the forward collar of said pair adapted to yield so as to permit limited additional forward movement of said carriage, a guide for said carriage, means for imparting reciprocating movement to said carriage, and a brake mechanism adapted to guide said needle and to retard the free pair of collars spaced apart and fastened to the rear end of said needle, a needle carriage slidably connected to said needle be tween said. collars, a spring between said carriage and the forward collar of said pair adapted to yield so as to permit limited additional forward movement of said carriage, H

a guide for said carriage, means for imparting reciprocating movement to said carriage, and a brak mechanism adapted to guide and act as a limiting stop for the for: ward movement of said needle and to retard the free movement of said needle duringthe latter part of its forward travel, and the first part of its rearward travel. I

5. Ina needle motion mechanism fora loom, a weft needle fastened to a carriage and having a collar thereon adapted to act as a piston, a combined needle guide and brake mechanism comprising a cylinder surrounding said needle the front end'thereof forming a guide for said needle the rear end open and adapted to receive and fit closely but slidably on said piston so as to retard the free movement thereof, and

means, for imparting reciprocating move- 6. In a needle motion mechanism for a loom, a weft needle fastened to a carriage and having a piston formed thereon, a

ne ates mechanism comprising a cylinder surrounding said needle, the front end thereof adapt- ,ed to form a guide and lin'iitingstop for the needle, the rear end open and adapted to fit closely but s'lidably on said piston.

8. In a needle motion mechanism for a loom, a needle mounted on a carriage so as to be capable of a limited independent sliding movement'thereon; a spring normally preventing such independent sliding movement; a piston on said needle; a combined needle guide, forward limiting stop,

v and brake mechanism comprising a cylinder surrounding said needle, the front end thereof adapted to act as a guide and limiting stop for the needle, the rear end open and adapted to fit closely but slidably on said piston: and means for controlling the ingress or egress of air to or from said cylinder when said piston is in place therein.

9. A brake mechanism for retarding the movement of the weft needle of a loom, a

piston; a stationary cylinder adapted to re reive and fit closely but slidably said piston, and means for controlling the egress and ingress of air from or to said cylinder while said piston is in place therein.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CHARLES H. COLLINS. 

